For the first time in a long time, the Kansas City Chiefs can be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss (and a Texans win) this weekend. That's why every game is a must-win from here on out if this team wants to continue its playoff streak. That's part of the bad news.
More bad news is that the Los Angeles Chargers are coming to town. They're fresh off a big overtime win against the Eagles and also got their rookie star running back just in time for this criticial AFC West showdown.
The good news, however, is that the weather will very much be in Kansas City's favor, as it's going to be a frigid game for everyone at Arrowhead Stadium. Nick Bender of KMBC 9 News posted on X that Sunday's game against the Chargers will be "one of, if not the, coldest games of 2025 so far." Bender also stated that the wind chills on Sunday morning will be between -5 and -15 degrees and the temperature at kickoff will be in the upper teens.
🥶⚠️ Chiefs fans! Be prepared for one of, if not the, coldest games of 2025 so far. Wind chills Sunday morning will range from about -5 to -15 degrees. Temperatures at kickoff are expected to be in the upper teens, only climbing into the lower 20s during the game. @kmbc pic.twitter.com/fwyqJgsUIW
— Nick Bender (@NickBenderKMBC) December 11, 2025
Frigid temperatures hopefully will tip scale in Chiefs' favor vs. Chargers
Considering it doesn't get all that cold in Los Angeles (and that the Chargers are used to playing in a dome), this is going to be quite the shock for the visiting Bolts. Justin Herbert has already taken a beating this season with all of the offensive line injuries and those aches and pains are only going to become worse when it's this cold outside.
There's nothing out there on Herbert's record in cold weather that I could find but considering he's played his entire pro career in Los Angeles, the frigid temperatures will definitely impact him and the rest of the Chargers squad.
Chiefs fans have seen firsthand when warm weather teams come into Arrowhead in December or later and just want to get the hell out of dodge. The most recent example of this to come to mind is when the Chiefs hosted the Dolphins in the 2023 Wild Card round and the kickoff temperature was sitting in the negatives. The Dolphins wanted no part of that game and their performance showed just that.
Hopefully, Herbert and the Chargers hate playing in the cold and put together a miserable performance. Every win matters for the Chiefs and they have to take this one so if the cold weather ends up being an advantage for them, then so be it. We'll take it.